Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will be asked by the FA to explain his outburst against referee Phil Dowd following the Anfield club's 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday. The FA's compliance department will want an explanation following his comment about Dowd when asked after the game whether he would expect to get two penalties as an away team.

Benitez is reported as saying: "No, with this referee I knew that was impossible."

The FA are also concerned with Benitez's attempts at humour when asked about two penalty decisions that went against Liverpool in the final minutes.

In the post-match press conference, Benitez had theatrically taken a glasses case out of his inside pocket, taken out the glasses and looked through them before putting them away again.

Assistant boss Sammy Lee was also sent off by Dowd after the coach had been involved in a row with the fourth official.

The FA have introduced a new code of conduct this season that is specifically aimed at stopping managers commenting on referees before matches.